His Grace was born '''Antoun Yssa Khouri''' on [[January 17]], 1931, in Damascus, Syria, the fourth of six children born to the late Wedad Elias Abraxia and Yssa Khouri. After completing his elementary education at the Orthodox School in Meedan, Syria, he entered the [[Balamand Orthodox Theological Seminary|Minor Seminary]] at [[Balamand Monastery of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos (Tripoli, Lebanon)|Balamand Monastery]], near Tripoli, Lebanon, at the age of fourteen, where he met his lifelong friend, the future Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York|Philip (Saliba)]]. At the Balamand he completing his junior and senior high school studies and then went on to receive his diploma in theology from the [[St. John of Damascus Patriarchal Institute of Theology (Tripoli, Lebanon)|Balamand Theological Academy of Saint John of Damascus]].

+

His Grace was born '''Antoun Yssa Khouri''' on [[January 17]], 1931, in Damascus, Syria, the fourth of six children born to the late Wedad Elias Abraxia and Yssa Khouri. After completing his elementary education at the Orthodox School in Meedan, Syria, he entered the [[Balamand Orthodox Theological Seminary (Tripoli, Lebanon)|Minor Seminary]] at [[Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand|Balamand Monastery]], near Tripoli, Lebanon, at the age of fourteen, where he met his lifelong friend, the future Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York|Philip (Saliba)]]. At the Balamand Seminary he completed his junior and senior high school studies and then went on to receive his diploma in theology from the [[St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology (Tripoli, Lebanon)|Balamand Theological Academy of Saint John of Damascus]].

−

On [[October 28]], 1951, he was ordained to the [[deacon|diaconate]] by His Beatitude, [[Alexander III (Tahan) of Antioch|Alexander III]], the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Damascus. While a deacon at the [[cathedral]], he was instructor, then Dean of the Saint John of Damascus School. While in Damascus, he undertook undergraduate studies at the [[Assiyat Orthodox College (Damascus, Syria)|Assiyat Orthodox College]] from which he was graduated in 1957. In the same year he was assigned to the [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Brazil]], where he served at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Paul and as secretary to His Eminence, Metropolitan [[Ignatius (Forzley) of Sao Paolo]].

+

On [[October 28]], 1951, he was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[deacon|diaconate]] by His Beatitude, [[Alexander III (Tahan) of Antioch|Alexander III]], the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Damascus. While a deacon at the [[cathedral]], he was instructor, then Dean of the Saint John of Damascus School. While in Damascus, he undertook undergraduate studies at the [[Assiyat Orthodox College (Damascus, Syria)|Assiyat Orthodox College]] from which he was graduated in 1957. In the same year he was assigned to the [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Brazil]], where he served at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Paul and as secretary to His Eminence, Metropolitan [[Ignatius (Forzley) of Sao Paolo]].

===Graduate education and priesthood===

===Graduate education and priesthood===

Line 13:

Line 13:

===Episcopacy===

===Episcopacy===

[[Image:Antoun Khouri 2.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Bp. Antoun vested]]

[[Image:Antoun Khouri 2.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Bp. Antoun vested]]

−

The General Assembly of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America|Archdiocese of North America,]] consisting of [[clergy]] and [[laity|lay]] delegates from [[parish]]es throughout the United States and Canada, nominated Archimandrite Antoun for the office of [[auxiliary bishop]] to the Metropolitan on [[August 1]], 1981, and the [[Holy Synod]] of the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East]] elected him to that office at a session in Damascus, Syria, on November 4, 1982, as titular of Selefkia. He was consecrated to the episcopacy on [[January 9]], 1983, at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York, by Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) of North America; Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]], the Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of North America; Archbishop [[Elias (Saliba) of Hama|Elias (Saliba)]], the superior of the [[Patriarchal Monastery of St. George (Tel-Kalakh, Syria)]]; Bishop [[Paul (Bandaly) of Akkar|Paul (Bandaly)]], the Patriarchal Vicar (now Metropolitan of Akkar, Lebanon); and Bishop [[Antonio (Chedraoui) of Mexico|Antonio (Chedraoui)]], the Patriarchal Legate for the Diocese of Mexico and Central America.

+

The General Assembly of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America|Archdiocese of North America,]] consisting of [[clergy]] and [[laity|lay]] delegates from [[parish]]es throughout the United States and Canada, nominated Archimandrite Antoun for the office of [[auxiliary bishop]] to the Metropolitan on [[August 1]], 1981, and the [[Holy Synod]] of the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East]] elected him to that office at a session in Damascus, Syria, on [[November 4]], 1982, as [[titular bishop]] of Selefkia. He was consecrated to the episcopacy on [[January 9]], 1983, at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York, by Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) of North America; Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]], the Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of North America; Archbishop [[Elias (Saliba) of Hama|Elias (Saliba)]], the superior of the [[Patriarchal Monastery of St. George (Tel-Kalakh, Syria)]]; Bishop [[Paul (Bandaly) of Akkar|Paul (Bandaly)]], the Patriarchal Vicar (now Metropolitan of Akkar, Lebanon); and Bishop [[Antonio (Chedraoui) of Mexico|Antonio (Chedraoui)]], the Patriarchal Legate for the Diocese of Mexico and Central America.

By a decision of the [[Holy Synod]] of the Patriarchate dated [[October 9]], 2003, His Grace became a diocesan bishop bearing the title of '''Bishop of Miami and the Southeast'''. Bishop Antoun maintains his office and residence at the Archdiocesan Chancery in Englewood, New Jersey.

By a decision of the [[Holy Synod]] of the Patriarchate dated [[October 9]], 2003, His Grace became a diocesan bishop bearing the title of '''Bishop of Miami and the Southeast'''. Bishop Antoun maintains his office and residence at the Archdiocesan Chancery in Englewood, New Jersey.

Contents

Life

Early years

His Grace was born Antoun Yssa Khouri on January 17, 1931, in Damascus, Syria, the fourth of six children born to the late Wedad Elias Abraxia and Yssa Khouri. After completing his elementary education at the Orthodox School in Meedan, Syria, he entered the Minor Seminary at Balamand Monastery, near Tripoli, Lebanon, at the age of fourteen, where he met his lifelong friend, the future Metropolitan Philip (Saliba). At the Balamand Seminary he completed his junior and senior high school studies and then went on to receive his diploma in theology from the Balamand Theological Academy of Saint John of Damascus.

Graduate education and priesthood

In 1959, Deacon Antoun arrived in United States for graduate theological studies at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary near New York City, from which he was graduated in 1962, having been ordained to the priesthood on May 29, 1960, by His Eminence, Metropolitan Antony (Bashir), the Archbishop of New York and all North America. On August 3, 1969, he was elevated to the dignity of Archimandrite by His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip (Saliba), the current Primate of Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. As a priest he served the following pastorates: St. George Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; St. George Church in Toronto, Ontario; St. George Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania and St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York. From 1969 to 1977, he worked from the Archdiocesan chancery in Englewood, New Jersey, as personal aide to Metropolitan Philip.

By a decision of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate dated October 9, 2003, His Grace became a diocesan bishop bearing the title of Bishop of Miami and the Southeast. Bishop Antoun maintains his office and residence at the Archdiocesan Chancery in Englewood, New Jersey.